Cash-register.



No. 652,829. Patented July 3, I900.

- T. H. BLAIR.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed Oct. 7, 1S99 '4 SheetsSheef l.

(No Model.)

No. 652,829. Pategted July 3, I900.

T. H. BLAIR. CASH REGISTER. (Application filed Oct. 7, 1899.) (NoModel.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 652,829. Patented July 3, I900.

T. H. BLAIR.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed Oct. 7, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-$heet 3.

. tachably secured in the machine.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. BLAIR, OF NORTHBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THEWVHITING MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,829, dated July 3,1900.

Application filed October 7, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H; BLAIR, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Northborongh, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Cash-Register,of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a cash-register which is controlled by the useof a number of independent checks; and the objects of this inventionare, first, to provide acompact, inexpensive, and durable cash-registerin which the checks successively inserted into the machine will bestacked or kept in order to form a record showing the sequence in whichthe transactions represented by the checks have taken place, and,second, to provide simple and efficient means for releasing thecash-drawer which flies open whenever a check is inserted into themachine.

To these ends this invention consists of the parts and combinations ofparts and of a special form of check as an article of manufacture, ashereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claimsat the end of this specification.

In the accompanying four sheets of drawings, Figure l is a perspectiveview of a cashregister constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2is a perspective vieW of one of the checks therefor. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the check-receiver in whichthe checks are stacked inthe same order in which they are successively used, so as to form arecord showing the sequence in which the transactions represented by thechecks have taken place, which check-receiver is preferably de- Fig. 4is a sectional view of the cash-register. Fig. 5 is a similar viewshowing the parts in a slightly-different position. Figs. 6 to 8,inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of theconnection for releasing the cash-drawer and for pushing the checks backinto the check-receiver. Fig. 9 is a detail View of a bell and thedevices cooperating therewith for sounding the bell when the cash-drawerflies open. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modified form ofcash-register provided with a plurality of distinct ed. To this end acash-register constructed Serial No. 732,836. (No model.)

check-guideways. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the operatingconnections employed in this modified form of construction, and Fig. 12is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a modified formof checkwhich may be employed for recording unusual transactions.

The especial object of this present invention is to provide a cash-register of such construction as will afford security and protection inan equal degree with the expensive machines and which will be so simplein its construction that it may be manufactured and sold at a price thatcan be afforded by all.

The connections employed for controlling the operative parts of acash-register from a keyboard are necessarily complicated and ex- 7pensive.

One object of this invention is, therefore, to dispense with thekeyboard of a cash-register and to provide a cash-register which willafford the same degree of security and will keep an equally-accu raterecord of transactions, but which is controlled by the use ofindependent checks, which may be inserted one after another into themachine, each check exposing the amount of sale or transaction to viewuntil the next check is insertaccording to this invention comprises aguide- Way for receiving and exhibiting the checks which are insertedtherein and a check-receiver in which the checks are successivelystacked for economy in space and to form a record showing the sequencein which the transactions represented by the checks have taken place.The guideway for the checks is preferably located at the front of themachine, so as to be in plain view, and the checkreceiver preferablyextends to the rear of the guideway and is preferably detachably se-'cured in the frame of the machine, so that it can be removed therefromand the checks therein examined or the amounts thereof 5 added up.

Mounted in the frame of the machine, preferably below thecheck-receiver, is a cashdrawer.

The cash-drawer is preferably arranged to too be released, so that itwill fly open while a check is being inserted into the machine.

In its preferred form a cash-register constructed according to thisinvention preferably comprises a single operating connection forreleasing the cash-drawer and for thereafter pushing the check back outof its guideway into the check-receiver. This operating connection, asherein illustrated, comprises a pivoted lever having an inclined orcamshaped front end located in position to be engaged by the checks asthey are inserted. The checks employed preferably have side tongues 0rprojections ,which fit into the grooves forming the guideway therefor.So long as the wings or side projections of a check are retained in thegrooves or slots at the side of the guideway the downward pressureexerted on a check will be exerted on the front end of theoperating-lever to depress said front end of the operating-lever andrelease the cash-drawer. As soon as the side projections of a check passdown below the bottom of the grooves the check will be left free to bemoved back, and as the front end of the operating-lever rises it willforce the check back into the check-receiver, this operation beingrepeated and the checks inserted into the machine being stacked in thecheck-receiver to form a record showing the sequence in which thetransactions represented by the checks have taken place.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and in detail, the frame of themachine as herein illustrated comprises a metallic basepiece 10 and ametallic rear plate 11, which support a body portion 12. The bodyportion 12 is preferably made of wood or similar material and may beattractively finished or covered with leather, as desired.

Atthe front of the machine are one or more metallic front plates 16, andformed in the front'pl'ates is a guideway for receiving the checks.

D'etachably secured in a portion 13 of the frame of themachine at therearof the guideway isa check-receiver 14. The check-1e CGlV'Bl 14 ispreferably provided with a look, as indicated at 15, which lock may beof any of the ordinary or approved constructions, which need not beherein shown or described at length.

Mounted in the frame of the machine below the check-receiver is acash-drawer 17.

The checks which are employed for operating the machine are preferablysubstantially of the construction illustrated in Fig. 2. Each of thesechecks, as 18, is provided at its lower end with side projections orwings 19. These checks may be made of metal, celluloid, cardboard, orsimilar material and may have numbers or figures printed thereon, asshown in Fig. 1, while to record odd or unusual transactions specialblank checks may be provided, as shown in Fig. 2, on which numbers canbe written or penciled by hand,

or, if preferred, composite checks may be employed for recording odd orunusual transactions, as illustrated in Fig. 12, and as hereinafterdescribed.

The cash-drawer 17 may be of the ordinary construction, and, as hereinillustrated, said cash-drawer 17 is provided with side strips 26,supporting a movable compartment or change-drawer 27, the lower part ofthe cashdrawer being used for bills in the ordinary manner. Extendingfrom the rear of the cash-drawer 17 is an arm 20, which is connected tothe springs 21, normally tending to pull the cash-drawer open. Alsosecured on the arm 20, as shown most clearly in Fig. 9, is a pawl 22,which is normally held in position by a spring 23 to engage the tongueor striker 24 of a bell 25, secured in the frame of the machine, tosound the bell as the cashdrawer flies open.

Journaled in the frame of the machine above the cash-drawer 17 is anoperating-la ver 28, which is provided for performing the doublefunction of releasing the cash-drawer when a check is inserted into themachine and to then push back or stack the check into itscheck-receiver. As shown herein, the operating-lever 28 has a latch orcatch at its rear end, engaging a socket 30 in the cashdrawer. The frontend of the operating-lever 28 is normally raised by a spring 29 and isbeveled or inclined to form a cam for pushing the checks back into thecheck-receiver, this operation being most clearly illustrated in Figs. 6to 8, inclusive. Thesefigures show one of the grooves or slots 180 whichform the guideway for receiving the checks 18, other parts of themachine being omitted for the sake of clearness. When a check. isinserted into the machine, as illustrated in Fig. 6, so long as its sideprojections or wings 19 remain in the slots 180 the downward pressure onthe check will be transmitted to the lever 28, so that as the check ispushed down the lever will be raised to release the cash-drawer, asindicated in Fig. 7.

In order to avoid the necessity of so setting the lever 28 that it willrelease the check from the bottom of slots 180 of the check-guideway atthe same time the cash-drawer is released, thus preventing a check whichhas once been inserted into the machine far enough to unlock thecash-drawer from being drawn up out of the check-guideway, small springsor pawls, as 31, may be secured in one or both of the slots 180, so thatthese springs will engage above the side wings 19 of a check as the sameis forced down to hold the check from being again withdrawn.

When a check has been pushed down into the guideway far enough for itswings or side projections 19 to pass down out of the slots 180, thecheck will be free to be pushed back, and as the front end of the lever28 is raised by its spring the check will be forced back into thecheck-receiver, as shown in Fig. 8,

IIO

it becoming thus additionally secured against removal until the receiverhas been removed from the register.

The wings or side projections 19 of the checks fit into guideways in thecheck-receiver, and the body portion of the check is designed to fit soloosely into the check-receiver that no special provision is requiredfor forcing back the upper part of the check.

The rear face of the turned-up end of the lever 28 is substantiallyvertical, and as there is no resistance to the backward motion of thebody portion of the check this vertical face will carry the check bodilyback into the receiver.

The check-receiver, as most clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, ispreferably provided with a false back piece or follower 16, which slidesin grooves in said check-receiver, so that as the checks are stackedinto the checkreceiver they will be held from falling over.

In the use of a cash-register as thus constructed at the end of a daysbusiness or at other times the register may be unlocked and the contentsof the check-receiver added and compared with the cash in the drawer. Ifthe number of sales exceeds the capacity of one check-receiver, the fullcheck-receiver may be removed and an empty one inserted. The fullcheck-receiver can then be laid aside until the end of a days businessor may be emptied and the checks counted and assorted as often asrequired.

The blank checks which are provided for recording special transactionsor disbursements may have an erasible surface, upon which any memorandadesired may be recorded. These blank checks may thus be used repeatedlyor a cheaper quality with a non-erasible surface may be employed, ifdesired, which checks may bedestroyed or filed after being once used ata nominal expense. Furthermore, a cash register as thus constructed maybe employed for separating different accounts and for making comparisonswhich would be impossible in the use of ordinary cash-registers. Forexample, where several clerks are employed one clerk may be required touse checks of one letter, number, or color and other clerks checks ofdiiferent letters, numbers, or colors, so that the amounts of sales ofeach clerk can be readily determined. In the same way severaldepartments of a business may be kept separate. For example, checks ofone color may be employed for recording sales of cigars and tobacco andchecks of other colors may be used fordifferent lines, while at the sametime letters or numbers may be assigned to different clerks. Acash-register as thus constructed will also afford convenient means forthe comparison of sales during, the different hours of a days business.For example, if it is desired to ascertain the amount of transactionsduring any particular time of the day a memorandum of the time can bewritten on a blank check, which is inserted in the machine to separatethe checks inserted according to periods of time, as desired. In somecases in order to more perfectly separate the different departments of abusiness or to more, readily keep account of the transactions ofdifferent employees cash-registers constructed according to thisinvention maybe provided with a plurality of check-receiving guideways,and such a construction is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11.

The cash-register illustrated in Fig. 10 comprises a body portion 31,which may be of the ordinary construction, and a detachablecheck-receiver 32. In front of the check-receiver 32 are a plurality ofindependent guideways for receiving the checks to be inserted in themachine. In the present instance three such guideways are illustratedfor receiving independent checks, as 33, 34, and 35, it being understoodthat the check-receiver 32 is provided with corresponding compartmentsin which the checks are stacked. Below the check-receiver is acash-drawer 36. The operating connections for a multiple-compartmentcash-register of this form may be of the construction shown in Fig. 11.As shownin this figure, the operating connections eornprise a lever 37,,arranged to be actuated by one of the checks, as 33, a lever 38,arranged to be operated by one of the checks, as 34, and a lever 39,arranged to be operated by the third check, as 35. At their rearendsthelevers 37, 38, and 39 extend under and are arranged to lift alocking-frame 40, having detents or catches 4.1 for locking thecashdrawer. By means of this construction whenever any one of the levers37, 38, or 39 is depressed the cash-drawerwill be released Withoutaffecting the other operating-levers.

In some cases instead of employing blank checks upon which oddtransactions or memoranda may be written composite checks may beemployed which have the form of holders for retaining small cards orslips, as illustrated in Fig. 12. The composite check illustrated inthis figure comprises a body portion 48, having side strips or tongues19, the upper and lower edges-of the body portion 48 being bent over, asat 50 and 49, to form grooves for receiving a plurality of separatecards or strips of pasteboard or similar mate rial, as 51.

Numerous changes may be made in the construction and arrangement ofparts without departing from the scope of this invention as expressed inthe claims. It is not desired,

therefore, to be limited to the forms herein shown and described; but

l/Vhat is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

1. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway for receiving thechecks inserted into the machine by hand, and a check-receiver in whichthe checks are successively stacked to economize in space and form arecord of the sequence in which the transactions represented by thechecks have taken place, substantially as described.

2. In a cash-register, the combination of a money-drawer, a guideway forchecks inserted into the machine by hand, connections for releasing themoney-drawer by the insertion of a check into the guideway, and acheckreceiver in which the checks are successively stacked to economizein space and form a record of the sequence in which the transactionsrepresented by the checks have taken place, substantially as described.

3. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway for receivingchecks inserted into the machine by hand, and a check-receiver in whichthe checks are successively stacked to economize in space and form arecord of the sequence in which the transactions represented by thechecks have taken place, said checkreceiver being d etachably secured inthe frame of the machine so that it can be removed therefrom whendesired, substantially as described.

4. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway at the front of themachine for receiving the checks inserted therein by hand, acheck-receiver at the rear of the guideway arranged to expose the checklast used until a succeeding check is inserted into the machine, a cashdrawer arranged below the check-receiver, and connections for releasingthe cash-drawer, substantially as described.

5. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway at the front of themachine for receiving the checks inserted therein by hand, acheck-receiver at the rear of the guideway arranged to expose the checklast used until covered by a succeeding check, and means for forcing thesuccessive checks back into the check-receiver to stack the successivechecks therein, substantially as described.

6. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway formed by groovesfor receiving the side projections of a check, a spring latch or pawlfor engaging above the side projections of the check to prevent thecheck from being removed after having once been inserted into theguideway and a check-receiver in which checks are successively stackedto economize in space and form a record of the sequence in which thetransactions represented by the checks have taken place, substantiallyas described.

7. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway formed by groovesfor receiving the wings or side projections of a check, and adepressible lever arranged to first be depressed by the insertion of acheck into the guideway, and to then move the check back out of theguideway when its side projections pass below the bottoms of thegrooves, substantially as described.

8. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway formed by groovesfor receiving the side projections of a check, a check-receiver,

and a lever arranged to first be depressed by the insertion of a checkinto the guideway, and to then move the check back into thecheck-receiver when the side projections of the check pass down out ofthe grooves, substantially as described.

9. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway formed by groovesfor receiving the side projections of a check, a check-receiver at therear of said guideway, said check-receiver being detachably secured inplace so that the same may be removed from the machine, and a leverarranged to first be operated by the insertion of a check into theguideway, and to then move the check back into its check-receiver whenthe side projections of the check pass below the bottoms of the grooves,substantially as described.

10. As an article of manufacture, a check of a substantially inverted-Tshape for use in connection with cash-registers having side projectionsor wings at its bottom for holding it in position during its passagethrough the guideway of the cash-register, but permitting it to be movedback when its projections pass out of the bottom of the grooves formingthe guideway, substantially as described.

11. As an article of manufacture, a check of a substantially inverted-Tshape for use in cash-registers comprising a body portion having sidewings or projections at one end for holding it in position during itspassage through the guideway of the cash-register, but permitting it tobe moved back when its projections pass out of the bottoms of thegrooves forming the guideway, and having turned-overedges forminggrooves for retaining cards or slips, substantially as described.

12. In a cash-register, the combination of guideways formed by groovesfor receiving the side projections of a check, acash-drawer normallyheld in its locked or closed position, and a lever arranged to beengaged by a check as the same is inserted in the guideway to firstrelease the cash-drawer and to then force the check back from saidguideway when its side projections pass down out of the grooves formingthe guideway,substantially as described.

13. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway at the front ofthe machine formed by grooves for receiving the side projections of acheck, a check-receiver at the rear of said guideway, a cash-drawerarranged below these parts and normally held in its locked or closedposition, and a lever arranged to first be operated by the insertion ofa check into the guideway to release the cash-drawer, and to then forcethe check back into the check-receiver when the side projections of thecheck pass down below the grooves forming the guideway, substantially asdescribed.

14. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway at the front ofthe machine formed by grooves for receiving the side projections of acheck, a check-receiver detachably secured in place behind the guideway,a cashdrawer arranged below these parts and normally held in its lockedor closed position, a lever, and a bell arranged to be sounded when thecash-drawer opens, said parts being arranged so that when a check isinserted in the guideway, the lever will first be depressed to releasethe cash-drawer, and will then act to force the check back out of theguideway into the check-receiver when the side projections of the checkpass down out of their grooves, substantially as described.

15. In a cash-register, the combination of a plurality of guidewaysforreceiving and exhibiting the checks inserted therein, and acheck-receiver in which the checks inserted in each guideway aresuccessively stacked for econony in space and to form records of thesequence in which the transactions represented by the checks have takenplace, substantially as described.

16. In a cash-register, the combination of a cash-drawer, anoperating-lever having one end thereof forming a-detent for holding thecash-drawer in its closed or locked position, and having its oppositeend arranged to be engaged and directly actuated by a check when thesame is inserted into the machine, substantially as described.

17. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway at the front ofthe machine for receivin g and exhibiting checks inserted therein, apivoted lever extending to the rear of the guideway, the rear end ofsaid lever forming a detent for holding the cash-drawer in its locked orclosed position, and the front end of the lever being arranged to beengaged and directly actuated by a check when the same is inserted intothe machine, substantially as described.

18. In a cash-register, the combination of a guideway at the front ofthe machine formed by grooves for receiving the side projections of acheck, a check-receiver secured in place behind the guideway, acash-drawer arranged below these parts, and a pivoted lever havin g itsrear end forming a detent for holding the cash-drawer in its locked orclosed position, and having a cam or inclined portion at its front endarranged in position to be engaged and operated by the insertion of acheck into the guideway to first release the cash-drawer, and to thenrise and force the check back into the check-receiver when the sideprojections of the check pass down below the grooves forming theguideway, substantially as described. g

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

THOMAS H. BLAIR.

Witnesses:

LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W. SoUTHGA'rE.

